Tag Archives: peace

Upon taking up my duties as Secretary-General in January of this year, my very first act was to issue an appeal for peace — a call on citizens, governments and leaders everywhere to put peace first.

The International Day of Peace, observed every year on 21 September, embodies our shared aspiration to end the needless suffering caused by armed conflict. It offers a moment for the peoples of the world to acknowledge the ties that bind them together, irrespective of their countries of origin. It is a day on which the United Nations calls for a 24-hour global ceasefire, with the hope that one day of peace can lead to another, and another, and ultimately to a stilling of the guns.

In an opinion piece today for Newsweek, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres outlined a vision for addressing the enormous challenges facing the international community, including maintaining peace and security, promoting economic development, and combatting climate change.

“The greatest shortcoming of the international community today is its failure to prevent conflict and maintain global security,” he wrote. The new Secretary-General, whose five-year term began on 1 January, is urging the international community to respond to recent crises by committing to a more diplomatic and peaceful 2017. To do that, he argued, we must focus on the basics: stronger institutions and more resilient societies.

Since the unanimous adoption of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the cornerstone of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015, governments, the private sector and civil society are quickly moving to take the action that we need to end poverty, address inequalities and tackle climate change by 2030.

To mark the first year anniversary, a number of high-level events and side events are taking place from 19 to 23 September.

Who:
Heads of State and Government, joined by leaders from the private sector, civil society organisations, academia and senior UN officials

What:
Key intergovernmental events plus dozens of other meetings and side events by governments, UN agencies and leaders from civil society, foundations and the private sector will raise awareness around many issues related to the Sustainable Development Goals. Please note all events listed below are subject to change.

When:
19-23 September 2016, with more events occurring before and after

Where:
United Nations Headquarters (and surrounding venues)
High-level events will be webcast live at http://webtv.un.org/

MESSAGE ON THE 100-DAY COUNTDOWN TO THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE 13 June 2016

Every year on the International Day of Peace, the United Nations calls on the peoples of the world to remember their common humanity and join together to build a future free of strife. It calls on all of us to observe a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, and to honour a cessation of hostilities for the duration of the Day.

This year’s theme – the Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace – highlights how ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring broadly shared prosperity all contribute to global harmony. When we all work together, we can make peace possible, starting with 24 hours of peace on September 21.

More than 1,000 indigenous participants from all regions of the world are expected to attend the fifteenth session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 9 to 20 May. Continue reading →

To engage in a strategic reflection about today’s threats to international peace and security and examine how to strengthen the performance of the United Nations’ engagement in this field, the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mogens Lykketoft, is organising a High-level Thematic Debate of the UN General Assembly focused on UN, Peace and Security on 10-11 May 2016. Continue reading →

Timor-Leste has approved a National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security for 2016-2020, becoming the third country in Southeast Asia to adopt such a plan based on a UN Security Council Resolution. Continue reading →

Today’s conflicts were outpacing the ability of the United Nations to address them, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today, drawing attention to new international momentum for the changes needed to ensure that peace operations were designed, equipped and financed to tackle the challenges of tomorrow. Continue reading →